Device for temperature measurement and a method for the manufacture of such a device

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for temperature measurements, comprising a temperature-sensitive sensor whose electrical properties, e.g. resistance, vary with the temperature, e.g. a thermistor, and which via two contacts is connected to two electric conductors arranged on a support, which electric conductors in turn can be connected to a reading unit for the reading of the actual values of current, voltage or the like corresponding to the temperature. In a preferred embodiment the said electric conductors are in the form of two metal layers on both sides of a support made of plastics. The one metal layer is interrupted by a gap which is arranged to be bridged by the sensor, one contact of which is connected to each conductor.

We claim: 
     
       1. A method of manufacturing temperature measurement devices, comprising the steps of: providing a sheet of electric insulating material;   providing one side of said sheet with electric conducting material to form a first electric conductor;   providing an opposite side of said sheet with electric conducting material to form a second electric conductor;   electrically short-circuiting said first and second electric conductors along one edge of said sheet;   removing a portion of one of said first and second electric conductors to form a gap therein extending generally parallel to said one edge of said sheet;   cutting said sheet along at least one line generally perpendicular to said gap and hence said one edge of said sheet to form a plurality of individual strips from said sheet;   providing each strip with its own temperature-sensitive sensor having a pair of electric contacts such that one contact is electrically connected to said first electric conductor of said strip and the other contact is electrically connected to said second electric conductor of said strip, thereby forming a plurality of temperature measurement devices.   
     
     
       2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said first and second electric conductors are short circuited by soldering said conductors to each other along said one edge of said sheet. 
     
     
       3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said first and second electric conductors are short circuited by folding one of said first and second electric conductors around said one edge of said sheet such that said first and second electric conductors are electrically connected to each other. 
     
     
       4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said gap is formed by planing. 
     
     
       5. A method according to claim 3, wherein said gap is formed by scraping. 
     
     
       6. A method of manufacturing temperature measurement devices, comprising the steps of: providing a sheet of electric insulating material;   providing a portion of one side of said sheet with electric conducting material to form a first electric conductor;   providing an opposite side of said sheet with electric conducting material to form a second electric conductor;   folding said second electric conductor around one edge of said sheet such that said second electric conductor is applied to said one side of said sheet in spaced-apart relationship to said first electric conductor so as to form a gap between said conductors generally parallel to said one edge of said sheet;   cutting said sheet along at least one line generally perpendicular to said gap and hence said one edge of said sheet to form a plurality of individual strips from said sheet;   providing each strip with its own temperature-sensitive sensor having a pair of electric contacts such that one contact is electrically connected to said first electric conductor of said strip and the other contact is electrically connected to said second electric conductor of said strip, thereby forming a plurality of temperature measurement devices.   
     
     
       7. A method of making a temperature-sensitive instrument, comprising the steps of: applying a first electric conductor to one surface of an elongated support member;   applying a second electric conductor to an opposite surface of said support member, said second electric conductor being connected electrically to said first electric conductor around one end of said support member; cutting out a portion from one of said first and second conductors adjacent said one end of said support member to form a gap; and   bridging said gap with a temperature-sensitive sensor, having first and second electric contacts, such that said first contact is connected to said first electric conductor and said second contact is connected to said second electric conductor.   
     
     
       8. A method in accordance with claim 7, wherein said second electric conductor extends around said one end of said support member and contacts said first electric conductor. 
     
     
       9. A method in accordance with claim 7, further including the step of supporting said support member with another support member, which is formed of semi-rigid material, such that said sensor is located entirely within the borders of said another support member. 
     
     
       10. A method of making a temperature-sensitive instrument, comprising the steps of: applying a first electric conductor to one surface of an elongated support member, said first electric conductor being shorter than said support member;   applying a second electric conductor to an opposite surface of said support member, said second electric conductor extending around one end of said support member to said one surface thereof and terminating at a point spaced from said first conductor to form a gap on said support member without overlapping said first electric conductor; and   bridging said gap with a temperature-sensitive sensor, having first and second electric contacts, such that said first contact is connected to said first electric conductor and said second contact is connected to said second electric conductor.   
     
     
       11. A method in accordance with claim 10, further including the step of supporting said support member with another support member, which is formed of semi-rigid material, such that said sensor is located entirely within the borders of said another support member.